The second Test between India and England largely belonged to the man from Madras. Even if Rohit Sharma had set the tone with his magnificent 161, it was Ashwin who etched his prominent signature as India won by a whopping 317 runs.
Young batsman Powell believes West Indies can clinch the T20 World Cup for the third time if it is a full-strength squad with the senior players around.
If you learn to listen to your body, if you are conscious of your body’s signals, you will get the maximum performance out of it.
There is no doubt that the thrill quotient of cricket has gone up, but all is definitely not well with this “gentleman’s game.” There have been many casualties in this quest to gain a greater audience and greater revenues.
Over the last few months, there have only been verbal assurances by BCCI officials that they would take all measures to resume domestic and bilateral cricket for the women cricketers of the country.
Sachin Tendulkar: The inflow of money into the game, through sponsors, broadcasters, et cetera. From thereon, the infrastructure got a huge boost and post that, we saw talent emerging from various states. That was a result of the BCCI setting up good infrastructure, and everything changed.
Few teams have met with resounding success in India in the last 50 years. Australia has won just one series, in 2004, since Bill Lawry’s team won in 1969. Pakistan won once in 1987 under Imran Khan a series that was contested fiercely. To England goes the credit of winning three series in India in the last 50 years — 1976-77, 1984-85 and 2012-13.
“Instead of immediately rushing into competition and participating in the Indian GP and the Federation Cup, I’m planning to participate in competitions in May and June to prepare for the Olympics,” says Jinson Johnson, the Asian Games champion in the metric mile.
Just for a moment, pause and consider R. Ashwin’s mind-boggling sequence in the second Test against England in Chennai: 13, five for 43, 106, three for 53! Barring that 13 first up, this was primarily a bowler acquiring the halo of a supreme all-rounder across four days of the contest.
R. Ashwin has done the all-rounder’s double of a Test century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test match on three occasions.
“I think being a good player may help you at the start, but once you are into your new job, people stop thinking about what you have done; they are more interested in what you can do,” says East Bengal coach and Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler.
Most sportsmen are not political animals and sound like the mouthpieces of the establishment when they venture into unknown territory.
The Abu Dhabi T10 League did the unthinkable — conduct 29 matches in 10 days to set a template for the Olympics.
With the pandemic still with us the sight of some spectators without masks was a bit worrying. Basic precautions should not be forgotten for that’s the only way to stay safe.
With 14 clean sheets from 22 outings so far, the goalkeeper could possibly match Petr Cech’s tally of 24 in a single Premier League edition.
Ishan Pandita has two goals to his name from 25 minutes of game time in the last fortnight. And both of those goals were match-savers that enabled the Gaurs to remain in contention for a playoffs spot.
In addition to goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharja, ATK Mohun Bagan contributes two men each in defence and attack to our ISL Team of the Fortnight for February 1-14.
Harmeet Desai, who has travelled to France, Germany, Denmark and Belgium since November, says he tries to deal with circumstances positively instead of getting bogged down.
"I got the ball signed by my teammates...but it has been almost 70 years since, you know...the signatures have all worn off,” Gopinath says as a smile lights up his face. February 10 is the 69th anniversary of India's first-ever Test win.